The French tradition of Chandeleur, also known as Crêpe Day, is celebrated on February 2nd every year. The tradition dates back to ancient times when it was believed to mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring. It is a day to make and eat crêpes, which are thin, delicate pancakes.
The origin of Chandeleur is tied to Christianity, as it is also known as Candlemas Day. On this day, candles are blessed and lit in the church to represent the arrival of Jesus in the Temple, as described in the Gospel of Luke.
Crêpes are a staple food in France and are often made from a simple batter of flour, eggs, milk, and sugar. They can be served with a variety of sweet and savoury toppings, such as sugar, lemon, Nutella, ham, cheese, or eggs. Eating crêpes on Chandeleur is thought to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. In ancient times, it was traditional to hold a coin in one hand while cooking and to flip the crêpes with the other; this was said to ensure wealth in the future.
Chandeleur is a beloved French tradition that combines the celebration of the end of winter and the arrival of spring. It is a day to enjoy crêpes, an essential part of French cuisine, and wish for good luck and prosperity in the coming year.
Simple Crêpe Recipe
Below is a simple recipe for traditional French crêpes:
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for cooking
Instructions:
Whisk together the flour, eggs, milk, water, salt, and melted butter in a large bowl until smooth.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the batter rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a small amount of butter to the pan.
Pour in 1/4 cup of batter, swirling the pan to spread the batter evenly.
Cook the crêpe for 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly golden brown.
Repeat the process with the remaining batter, adding more butter to the pan as needed.
Serve the crêpes warm with your favourite toppings, such as sugar, lemon, Nutella, ham, cheese, or eggs.
Galettes - Buckwheat Crepes
Very popular in France, especially in Britany, are buckwheat crepes, called galettes. They are typically served as savoury dish. Here is a simple recipe for traditional Breton galettes:
Ingredients:
1 cup buckwheat flour
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for cooking
Fillings of your choice, such as ham, cheese, eggs, mushrooms, etc.
Instructions:
Whisk together the buckwheat flour, water, salt, and melted butter in a large bowl until smooth.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the batter rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a small amount of butter to the pan.
Pour in 1/4 cup of batter, swirling the pan to spread the batter evenly.
Cook the galette for 1-2 minutes on one side until set and lightly golden brown.
Flip the galette and add your desired fillings to one half of the galette.
Fold the other half of the galette over the fillings to form a semi-circle.
Cook for another minute or two until the fillings are hot and the galette is crispy.
Repeat the process with the remaining batter.
Fillings
Crepes are an ideal and versatile dish for a snack and support various fillings.
Here are a few popular variations of crêpes:
Cheese Crêpes: Fill crêpes with melted cheese, such as Gruyère or Emmental, and roll them up. Serve as a savoury snack or light lunch.
Ham and Egg Crêpes: Fill crêpes with sliced ham and a fried egg. Serve for breakfast or brunch.
Nutella Crêpes: Spread Nutella on crêpes and roll them up. Serve as a sweet snack or dessert.
Lemon and Sugar Crêpes: Sprinkle crêpes with sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Serve as a sweet snack or dessert.
Berry Crêpes: Fill crêpes with fresh berries, such as strawberries or raspberries, and a dollop of whipped cream. Serve as a sweet snack or dessert.
Savoury Crêpes: Fill crêpes with sautéed vegetables, such as mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, and cheese. Serve as a light lunch or dinner.
Dessert Crêpes: Fill crêpes with a sweet filling, such as Nutella, fruit preserves, or cinnamon sugar, and top with whipped cream and powdered sugar. Serve as a dessert.
These are just a few examples of the many delicious variations of crêpes that you can make. Feel free to get creative and try your unique fillings and toppings!
Vegan Crepes
Crêpes can easily be made vegan by using non-dairy substitutes for the ingredients. Here is a simple recipe for vegan crêpes:
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup non-dairy milk (such as almond, soy, or oat milk)
2 tablespoons vegan butter or oil, plus more for cooking
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Fillings of your choice, such as fruit, Nutella, or jams.
Instructions:
Whisk together the flour, non-dairy milk, vegan butter or oil, sugar, and salt until smooth in a large bowl.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the batter rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a small amount of vegan butter or oil to the pan.
Pour in 1/4 cup of batter, swirling the pan to spread the batter evenly.
Cook the crêpe for 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly golden brown.
Repeat the process with the remaining batter, adding more vegan butter or oil to the pan as needed.
Serve the crêpes warm with your favourite vegan fillings and toppings.
Whether vegan, galette or simple, crepes are always enjoyable!